News Room

Stellarton offers a new Building Façade Improvement Program

Published: June 03 2019 14:23

 Stellarton Mayor Danny MacGillivray is hoping downtown businesses take advantage of the town’s new Building Façade Program that will grant money to business/property owners wanting to make changes to their store fronts. 

 STELLARTON, NS – The Town of Stellarton wants to make a great first impression when it comes to its downtown district.  Town Council, through a recommendation from the Planning Advisory Committee chaired by Councillor Simon Lawand, has approved a Building Façade Improvement Program that is aimed at assisting business owners on Foord Street to improve the front of their businesses in hopes of attracting more people to the downtown core. The eligible area for the façade program is from Corner of Bridge/Foord to Manhattan Avenue. 

“The Town of Stellarton wants to have a fresh and vibrant community and part of that is to have a fresh and vibrant main street,” said Stellarton Mayor Danny MacGillivray.  Mayor MacGillivray said there have been several improvements made to Foord Street in the past few years, including the addition of the Stellarton Town Square and it wants to keep the momentum going by having business owners take pride in their own properties by making them look the best they can be. 

The intent of the program is to encourage commercial property owners and/or business tenants to renovate/upgrade the portions of their businesses that are readily visible to the public from the street. The program is only available to commercial properties and non-profit organizations within the downtown core of Foord Street.  Council said the façade improvement will beautify the streetscape and enhance the local community image and lifestyle as citizens have an increased pride in their downtown area which it hopes will lead to a new focus on economic renewal through increased local trade and commerce, employment, tax income and tourism. 

The town has budgeted $20,000 this fiscal year for the program and business owners can receive a grant up to $5,000 towards their project with their own matching dollars. Some of the work that will be considered eligible for the grants includes painting of woodwork, replacement or repair of cornices, eaves, parapets and other architectural features, renovations to storefronts, installation of appropriate signage and awnings, masonry repairs, demolition and cleanup and parklettes. All of the work must be completed within 12 months of receiving approval from the program. 

Program applications will be available from the town office beginning on June 10. Application available here (241 KB)